Global Positioning System

Global Positioning System

noun

Abbr. GPS

A system of satellites, computers, and receivers that is able to determine the latitude and longitude of a receiver on Earth by calculating the time difference for signals from different satellites to reach the receiver.

global-positioning-system

Noun

(plural global positioning systems)

Any system which enables a mobile receiver to determine its precise location based on signals received from satellites such as those of the US military, the Russian GLONASS system, or the proposed Galileo European alternative system.

Origin

From the proper noun Global Positioning System.

Proper noun

(cartography) A system which enables a mobile receiver to determine its precise location based on signals received from a constellation of US military satellites.

Usage notes

This entry is of a proper noun, which refers to a specific (the first one) global positioning system, now only one of many.